Inking mechanism for printing presses



Nov. 29, 1949 c, F. ROOT 2,489,588

INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed March 10, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

52 9. 5 CHARLES EROOT ATTORNEYS Nov. 29, 1949 c. F. ROOT 2,489,588

INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed March 10, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR. CHARLES F. ROOT BY" M MM ATTORNEYS Nov. 29, 1949 c, RQQT 2,489,588

INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 10, 1945 INVENTOR. CHAR LES F. ROOT ATTORNEYS Nov. 29, 1949 c. F. ROOT 2,489,588

INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed March 10, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 IN V EN TOR. CHARLES F. ROOT BY MM ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 29, "1949 INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING masses Charles F. Root, Cleveland,

Chandler & Price Company,

corporation of Ohio Ohio, assignor to The Cleveland, Ohio, a

Application March 10, 1945," Serial No. 582,012

13 Claims. (Cl. 101342) The present improvements, relating as indicated to inking mechanism for printing presses, have more particular regard to inking mechanism for platen printing presses of the so-called Gordon type. It will be understood, however, that the several improvements which constitute the invention may be advantageously used with printing presses of other types, where a form requires to be inked by transfer of ink from a suit able fountain or form.

In such presses the ink is customarily transferred from the fountain onto a distributing disc or plate by means of rollers which travel back and forth across in turn transferred from such disc or plate onto the form by the same or a second similar set of rollers. In the first of these operations, one of the difflculties encountered is that the rollers which transfer the ink from the fountain naturally tend to deposit more of such ink on the por- I disc or plate with which disclose a method of and apparatus for distributing ink onto a shiftable plate such as the rotatable disc just referred to which comprises passing the ink-bearing rollers back and forth across and in contact with such plate except for a pork tion of such passage during which said plate is left free to be shifted. In the specific embodiment shown and described in said application the means for effecting operation as stated are designed automatically to raise the inking rollers out of contact with latter. ative effect may be more advantageously obtained by automatically raising and lowering the disc so as to prevent contact of the rollers therewith during a portion of their movement. Not only is this arrangement a simple one which, may be more readily incorporated in presses of the type made more certain and positive and at the same time regulation of the period of non-contact of the rollers in question, but the action can be with the disc or plate is easily secured.

like source spaced from such the latter, and the ink is then.

the plate during an intermediate portion of their movement across the I have now discovered that such oper-,

frames. duced in the usual manner To the accomplishment of the related ends, said invention, then,

foregoing and consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particu-' larly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following de-.

scriptlon set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side the Gordon type, only such portions thereof other than the form-carrying bed and. ing mechanism being shown as are necessary to an understanding of the present improvements;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation on a larger scale, and with certain parts shown in vertical section, of the inking disc and associated parts which constitute one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of certain of such parts;

Figs. 4 tlvely showing the parts of present interest in different operative positions;

Fig. 6 illustrates in section a detail of the foregoing on a larger scale; and

Figs. 7, 8, 9 and 10 are likewise views similar to that of Fig. 2, but respectively showing other em bodiments of the invention.

Referring to the general view of the press shown in Fig. 1, the bed I of the press, in the face of which the form (not shown) is secured in familiar manner, is oscillatorily supported at its lower end about an axis 2 in the main frame 3 of the press. Oscillation means of connecting rods or side arms 4, one on each side, which are attached at one end to cranks 5 on a rotating part of the press and at the other to the corresponding ends of a shaft 6 that extends transversely through the bed. The

last-named connections include eccentrics by os-, cillation of which the bed may be displaced sufficiently so as to prevent the form from coming into contact with the platen (not shown), such shifting of the eccentric connections just referred to being effected by the usual means such as hand lever I and interconnected system of links and levers 8 and 9.

Also oscillatorily mounted on shaft 6 are roller "frames l0, one on each side of the bed, which carry the form inking rollers ll, shown as consisting of two pair, which are mounted in the usual manner in the forward portion of said Oscillation of arms I0 is likewise proby means of a link elevation of a printing press of associated inkand 5 are views similar to Fig. 2. respec of bed I is produced by :3 [2 connected at one end with a pivot I3 spaced from the axis of oscillation of the arms and at the other to a fixed point M on the main frame of the press.

Mounted on a bracket I5 that projects upwardly from bed I is an ink distributing plate It, which is preferabl in the formoiia disc, as shown, such disc being formed on its under sidewith a: central stud l7 whereby it is rotatably supported in a suitable bearing formed in the upper end' us M in a clockwise direction as viewed in of bracket !5.

yond the upper such fountain including a roller 2| which in its normal position is adapted to contact with one or both of two ink distributing rolIersZ-Z, that together with a vibrating roller 23, are supported An ink fountain 253 is located bein suitable trucks or saddles 24 so as to be movable up and down across the face of'tlie disc. Such trucks or saddles form part of a carriage; consists of side frames 25, of reversed C-form, the lower portions whereof a-reprovidedwithspaced rollers 261 that travelinoutwardly'facing channel. gu-ideways 21.. I

Reciprocable movement ot the'carriage andiofi theink distributing rollersx thus carried thereby is derived from oscillation of one of.v the side arms ID by means. of a link. ZBecon-nected at one end. to. a lower portion-- of the corresponding sideframe of the.- carriage atapoint. intermediate'ofi; rollers 26 and at the other end to a boss 29-01! such side frame. Rollers-Z2 are. provided with truck. wheels on. their respective ends which are adaptedv to run. ontracks3ddisposed in. parallel relation, one on each side Ordisc E55,. thesetraoksbeing. joined by curved. sections; at with other disposed: alongsidevthe.

tracks .32 that. are similarly face. ofbed' I. inwhichthefiorm is secured... There is. thusformediacontinuou's truckway. froma pointupper or rear edge ofthe disc toaadjacent the point lying. below the lower edge. of. such form so that form rollers. (may travelzupwardlyalong such trackway and across the inkdistributing disc l6" after a-. film of ink has been transferredtheretm by the distributing rQIIersZ-ZL To assist in the even. distributionoti'nk onthe disc' by rollers 22, means are. provided for im parting to. such disc; a stepeby-steprot-ative movement. Any suitable. means. maybe employed for this purpose, those illustrated being substantially as. shown. and described in. Ratent No. 2,079,172; to L. R. Johnson. et 1937. For the presentpurposeit willbe sufficient tonote that. such illustrated means. comprise a: downwardly facing bevel gear. .35

mounted, and two. bevell gears. 37-" transverse shaft38' located directly below such. bearing. (see Figs. 2. and 31) 'SaidI lastrnamed: gears are shiftable on the. shaft 3'8Ito bringeither one into engagement with gear 35 as desiredland by thereupon imparting. rotative. movement. to. such engaging gear the disc. may be. rotated izr either av clockwise or counterclockwise direction;

gravity said shaftv would assume its lowermost Fig. 5, it is normally raised position, as shown in 2.1., dated May secured onto the.v lower end 36' of stub shaft. ['IfWhich, projects through the bearing. wherein. such shaft ismounted. on an end of the ink distributing disc,

allow spring. 43 again. to-

4 slightly above such position, as shown in Fig. 4, by means of a, rocker 40 carried by a transversely disposed shaft 4|, the outer end of such rocker being disposed to engage the lower projecting end of the shaft extension 36 on which the pivotal gear is mounted, as described above. Projecting. from. shaft-4 lin a direction opposite to that of... rocker is. an arm 4'2, to which is attached a tension spring 43, which tends to oscillate shaft Figs. 3, 4 and 5, thus causing the rocker 40 to press upwardl y on tlie-lower projecting end 36 of shaft I 7. The result of this action will be to lift the disc into a plane where. its upper face will contact with: the ink: distributing rollers 22 with the desiredde'greeof pressure.

Also mounted-on shaft 4| is .a second arm 44 that" projects therefrom in the same general directioniasirocker 40 and has a loose pivotal connection at its outer end with one arm of a double arm rocker 45 oseilla-tori-lymounted on the shaft 39.. The other arm of saidrocker. 45 has attached thereto an. oscillatory dog. 46- of angular shape. which carries a roller 41- and is counterweightedi so as: tonormally restagainst-apinA B- on saidarmn In this position of: the dog. said roller-H will be:- engaged. by a cam 49 mounted on oneof therroller' frames 10 of thepresswhen said. frame is-swung in: a.- clockwise direction (see Fig-s. Land 5 and sincepin48 will. preventoscillation ofdog when; the roller is engaged in this manner, the effect;- of such engagement-wilt be to raise. the endof armtlfi. to which the. dogis. attached, depinass the-v oppositeend oflsaid arm, and thus oscillate shaft 4'1. acounterclockwise direction againstspring 3 an amount su'fii'cien-t topermit the shaft. II with. the inking; disc carriedthereby to-drop untiL the latter approximatelyrestson: the shaft bearr ing. Thi's. -movement"o the disc need berelatively small, i. e.- only sufiicienttolower the sun face thereofsufiiciently so. that: it'wi-lLno. longer. contact with the ink transfer rollersdl As. soon as frame LU starts to swing. in the"- opposi'te, iLe. counterclockwise direction, this-be-- ing, the direction of! movement assumed to be: taking. place Fig- 2, dog- 46 isfree toswing. under the pressureof the-engagementof. cam 43: with roller #1, with. the. result that thecorrespending arm of'rocker- 45 isf-ree. to drop-and thus function in the. manner previously describediv e. toraise-the disc again intov roller contacting position.

The location and. extent of. cam .43? is 1 preferably? such. that. the. lowering. ofthedisocontacting; position. will occur during an inter occur during the. interval that the disc: iss-out of:v In this wayas much;

contact with rollers 22... more. uniform distribution. onthe disc of the ink received by therollersfrom. the fountain.

secured than has heretofore been possiblawhile 16 out: of roller of ink fountainv 20.. In other" rollers and will then again-be:

said rollers thethe disc l 6 throughi- Fig. 7), the roller 6| on arm amazes by rotating the disc during the period it is thus out of contact with the rollers wear and damage to the latter which might otherwise occur" is avoided. Through the interconnection of the disc raising and lowering means with the oscillatory frame In which carries the form rollers, the operations just described will be synchronized with the operation of the press.

Since due to their composition both the transfer rollers and the form rollers tend to change in diameter due not only to wear but to aging, the provision of resilient means as described whereby the distributing disc will be pressed upwardly against said rollers as they pass thereacross has the further advantage of insuring proper and uniform contact at all times and without requiring any special adjustment of such rollers in their mountings, as heretofore has been necessary.

' In order to prevent seating of the disc with undue force or noise when it is lowered, the further means shown in Fig. 6 are provided, such figure illustrating details of the loose pivotal connection of rocker 45 with arm 44. Upon referring to this figure, it will be seen that such connection comprises a slot 50 in the end of said arm 44 and a roller on the corresponding arm of rocker 45 that is disposed within such slot. Set screws 52, one on each side of the slot, project within the latter and have flat inner ends which provide the surfaces with which such roller engages. Accordingly, by adjusting the screws in one direction or the other the position of the roller 5| may be shifted transversely of the slot with a corresponding shift in the angular relation of the arm 44 and rocker 45. In this way the position of the disc relative to the axial shifting means may be correspondingly adjusted so that when the disc is lowered it is not quite in contact with the opposed face of the bearing in which shaft I1 is journalled.

' In the modified construction illustrated in Fig. '7, the disc is mounted in the same manner as before and the same means for rotatably shifting the same are employed. However, instead of retaining the disc in its axially raised position by means of a spring it is positively held in this position by the action of a cam 55 on the swinging frame Hi, this cam corresponding with cam 49 which in such serves to lower the disc. To effect this different mode of operation oscillatory shaft 4| is provided with an arm 56 that is connected by toggle links 51 with a rocker 58 mounted for oscillation about a fixed pivot 59. Also oscillatory about such pivot is a depending arm 60 equipped at its lower end with a roller 6 wherewith said cam 55 is adapted to engage. Movement of arm 6|! relative to rocker 58 is limited by engagement of a pin 62 thereon in a slot 63 in said rocker.

Accordingly, when frame H] with the cam 55 carried thereby swings in a counterclockwise direction (this being the condition illustrated in 60 will be engaged by the latter, and through engagement in turn of pin 62 with the left hand end of slot 53, the rocker will be swung in a clockwise direction so as to straighten out toggle links 51 in which condition of the latter the disc will be retained in its elevated position. However, upon ing movement of arm l0, engagement of cam 55 thereon with roller 6| will serve to swing rocker 6|] in the opposite direction so as to break the toggle and allow the disc to drop under the influence of gravity.

previous construction reverse swingswinging movement of arm The modified construction illustrated in Fig. 8' is designed to operate in much the same manner as that illustrated in Fig. '7 and just described above. Thus the same and toggle links 51 is utilized. However, rocker 65 which replaces rocker 58 is formed with a:

If now the arm I0 with its cam 55 is swung in a counterclockwise direction (this being the po-- sition assumed in Fig. 8) said cam will engage roller 69 and swing plate 68 so that the right hand pin 1|] will engage the upper end of the corresponding slot II, and roller 6'! will engage the left side of slot 66 in rocker 65. The result will be to straighten out the toggle links 51 in which condition thereof the disc is retained in its elevated position. movement of cam 55 the plate 68 will be oscillated in the opposite direction from that just described, such toggle will be broken and the disc allowed to drop under the influence of gravity, as before.

In the third modification illustrated in Fig. 9.

the arm on oscillatory shaft 4| has two concave curves on its under side adapted to co-' operate with a roller 16 on one arm of a bell crank 11 mounted for oscillation about shaft 39. Pivotally attached to the other arm of said bell crank is a double acting counterweighted rocker 18 provided with rollers '59 and 85 that lie on opposite sides of its pivotal axis. Pins 8| on the bell crank arm serve normally to retain such rocker in the position illustrated in Fig. 8. Mounted in spaced relation, so as to lie above swing arm ID, are two rollers 82 and 83 which are so located as to be adapted respectively to engage rollers I9 and 89 on rocker 18 during In the position of the parts shown in Fig. 9 such swinging movement is assumed to be taking place in clockwise direction with the result that roller 82, carried by said arm H1, is brought into engagement with roller 19 on rocker i8. Continued movement of the arm I!) will accordingly oscillate bell crank H in a clockwise direction so as to move roller I6 from engagement with the end of arm '85 into the curved lower face thereof, thus allowing said arm to swing in a counterclockwise direction and correspondingly lower the disc. On the reverse swinging movement of arm I5 engagement of roller 82 with roller 19 on the rocker will be without effect; however, roller 83 will effectively engage the roller on said rocker to swing the bell crank 11 in a clockwise direction and thus restore the parts to the positions illustrated in Fig. 8 where the disc is held in its elevated position.

Finally, Fig. 10 illustrates still another modified construction in which, as in the one shown in Figs. 1 to 5, a spring is utilized to retain the disc in its elevated position; however, in this modification a compression instead of a tension spring is utilized. Since, except for the change in the spring, the other parts are identical with such first described construction, they bear the same reference numerals in Fig. 10 as in Figs. 1 to 5 inc.

arrangement of arm 56:

However, upon reverse However, in place of horizontal arm 42 to which tension spring 43 is connected, a",

2,4sagsss 7, downwardly projecting arm 85 is attached to oscillatory'shaft 41; and between the lower end of such arm anda: fixed point on-the press frame a: compression spring 86 is interposed. The latter is held in place by means of 'a rod 87!, one end of which slidably engages in a slot 88 in said armiwhile the other end passes through an eye bolt filii'on the machine frame. Such first end of the rod furthermore has threaded thereon two nuts 9!) and 91-, the first of which serves as an adjustable abutment with which the arm 85contacts, while the second serves to adjust'the'normal degree of compression of spring 8%. By proper setting of these nuts on the rod 8-1, the latter will hold the disc in raised position with whatever degree of pressure is desired it should exert against the rollers" passing over the disc.

In each of the several formsof the'invention described above it will be seen that the operation of the disc raising and lowering means is synchronizedwith the press cycle with" the result that the inking disc will be dropped out of contact with the ink distributing rollers at a predetermined stage in each successive printing operation. As indicated, said disc will be desira'bly thus dropped so as to'be out of contact with said rollers during the latter portion of their downward travel and the disc will then be raised. so as again to contact with said rollers as they start on their return movement. Rotation of the disc is likewise. synchronized with the press cycle, since rotation of the shaft 38 is tied in with such operation, as fully described in the cited Johnson et al. Patent No. 2,079,172. It is thus rendered possible to time the dropping of the disc out of contact with the ink distributing rollers to occur during the interval when the disc is being rotated.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinct- 13; claim as my invention:

1. In inking mechanism for printing presses, the combination of a shiftable ink-distributing plate, a roller movable across said plate in a plane parallel with the surface thereof, means normally pressing said plate toward said roller, whereby the latter contacts such surface, means adapted automatically to lower said plate out of contact with said roller, and means regulating, said plate lowering. means effective to time such lowering of said plate during a portion only of such travel of said roller thereacross, whereupon said plate may be freely shifted.

2. In inking mechanism for printing presses, the combination of a shiftable ink-distributing plate, a roller movable across said plate in a plane parallel with the surface thereof, resilient means normally pressing said plate toward said roller, whereby the latter contacts such surface, means adapted automatically to lower said plate out of contact with said roller, and means regulating said plate lowering means effective to time such lowering of said plate during a portion only of such travel of said roller thereacross, whereupon said plate may be freely shifted.

3. In inking: mechanism for printing presses, the combination of a shiftable, ink-distributing plate, a roller movable across said plate in a plane parallel with the surface thereof, resilient it to render said resilientmeans ineffective and thereby drop said plate outofcontact with said roller during a portion only of the latters traveli across said plate, whereupon said plate may-gbe freely shifted.

4. In inking mechanism for printing presses,,

the combination of asuitable bearing, an inking;-

disc having a stud shaft'journaled in said bearing, the lower end of said shaft projecting: through the latter,- a roller'movable across'said" disc in a plane parallel with the face thereon" an oscillatory arm engaging such projecting; shaft-end adapted to raise and lowerthe same together with said disc, resilient means-normally; actuating said arm to raisesaid disc, and-1a. member operating in'synchronismwith the press cycle adapted to actuate said arm against said: resilient means to lower said disc.

5. In inking mechanism for printing presses; the combination of a suitable bearing, an ink? ing disc having a stud shaft journaled in said bearing, the lower end ofsaid shaft projecting through the latterya roller movable across said disc ina plane parallelwith an oscillatory arm engaging such projecting. shaft-end adapted. to together withsaid disc, resilient means normally actuating said arm to raise saidv .disc, a rocker connected with saidarm andadaptedto actuate.

the same against saidresilient means, a .dog on, said rocker,.and,a cam operating in synchronism,

with they press. cyclev adapted when moving. in;

one direction to engage said dog andv thereby operate said rocker.

6. In inking mechanism for printing presses, the combination of a. suitable bearing. an inking disc having a stud shaft .iournaled in said bearing, the lower end of. said shaft. projecting; through the latter, disc in a plane parallel. with theface thereon,

an oscillatory arm engaging such projecting.-

shaft-end adaptedto. raise and lower the same, together with said. disc, resilient. meansnormally actuating said/arm, to. raise said disc, a; rocker connected with said armand adapted to actor-- ate the same against said resilient means, a dog on said rocker, the connections. between said? rocker and arm being adjustable, and a memberoperating in synchronism with the press cycle, adapted'to actuate said arm against said resilient? means to lower said disc.

7. In inking mechanism for printing presses, the combination of a suitable bearing, an inking disc having a stud shaft journaled bearing, the lower end of said shaft projectingthrough the latter, a roller movable across said disc in a plane parallel with the face thereof; an. oscillatory arm engaging such projecting shaft-end adapted to raise and lower the same together with said disc, a tension spring nor-- mally actuating said arm to raise said disc, and a member operating in synchronism with the press cycle adapted to actuate said arm againstsaid spring to lower said disc.

8. In inking mechanism for printing presses, the combination of a suitable bearing, and inking disc having a stud shaft journaled in said bearing, the lower end of said shaft projecting disc in a plane parallel with the face thereof,

the face thereo1',,

raise and lower: the same;

a roller movableacross said,

in said" an oscillatory arm engaging such projecting shaft-end adapted to raise and lower the same together with said disc, a compression spring normally actuating said arm to raise said disc, and a member operating in synchronism with the press cycle adapted to actuate said arm against said spring to lower said disc.

9. In inking mechanism for printing presses, the combination of a suitable bearing, an inking disc having a stud shaft journaled in said bearing, the lower end of said shaft projecting through the latter, a roller movable across said disc in a plane parallel with the face thereof, an oscillatory arm engaging such projecting shaft-end adapted to raise and lower the same together with said disc, a compression spring normally actuating said arm to raise said disc, and a member operating in synchronism with the press cycle adapted to actuate said arm against said spring to lower said disc, the degree of compression of said spring being adjustable.

10. In inking mechanism for printing presses, the combination of a rotatable inking disc, an ink distributing roller movable thereacross in contact with the surface of said disc, a form roller movable across the surface of said disc, means operative automatically to lower said disc out of contact with said ink distributing roller, means rendering said disc lowering means effective during a portion only of the travel of said ink distributing roller thereacross, means operative to maintain said disc in elevated position to engage said form roller during the entire movement of said form roller thereacross, and means operative to rotate said disc while thus lowered from engagement with said ink distributing roller.

11. In inking mechanism for printing presses, the combination of a shiftable ink-distributing plate, a roller movable thereacross in contact with said plate, means adapted automatically to lower said plate out of contact with said roller, means rendering said plate lowering means effective during a portion only of the travel of said roller thereacross, and means operative to shift said plate while said plate is thus out of contact with said roller.

12. In inking mechanism for printing presses, the combination of an ink fountain, a rotatable ink-distributing disc adjacent said fountain, an inking roller movable thereacross in rolling contact therewith toward and away from said fountain, means adapted to lower said disc out of contact with said roller, means regulating said disc lowering means effective to time such lowering of said disc to take place during the latter portion of a traverse of said disc by said roller in a direction away from said fountain, with said disc again contacting said roller at the conclusion of such traverse and throughout the return traverse of saiddisc by said roller toward said fountain, and means operative to rotate said disc while said disc is thus out of contact with said roller.

13. In inking mechanism for printing presses, the combination of a rotatable inking disc, an inking roller transversely movable thereacross in contact therewith, means adapted automatically to lower said disc out of contact with said roller, means regulating said disc lowering means effective to time such lowering of said disc during a portion only of the travel of said roller thereacross, and means operative to rotate said disc in synchronism with the press cycle while said disc is thus out of contact with said roller.

CHARLES F. ROOT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 148,050 Gordon Mar. 3, 1874 1,980,968 Kluge et al Nov. 13, 1934 2,377,269 Root May 29, 1945 

